Author Interview with Doug Simpson
Interview with Doug Simpson, author of Soul Awakening.
Today our interview is with Doug Simpson, author of Soul Awakening! Here is the description of his book.
Soul Awakening is a work of fiction, inspired by a series of actual events. It involves the apparently accidental, though actually orchestrated by Divine Intervention, meeting of three total strangers, and their ultimate discovery that they shared previous lifetimes together. It includes episodes of spirit communication, messages from God, past-life regression sessions, Guardian Angels, past-life recall while awake, and Soul Attraction, the reincarnation of groups of souls together, in more than one lifetime.
Sounds cool, huh! Well, let's get on with the interview and see what Doug is all about!
1. When did you start writing?
Writing has always been something I instinctively knew that I wanted to do. For some forty years I attempted a number of times to write a novel, but for assorted reasons I either abandoned the manuscript or produced a work of inferior quality.
2. What inspired you to finally do it?
After I retired I had time on my hands, and I spent a number of years researching the archived readings of the legendary American mystic from Virginia Beach, Edgar Cayce. In a self-induced, coma-like, trance state, Edgar gave over 15,000 readings, and retrieved an unimaginable quantity and quality of information in a number of subject areas. More than ten thousand of his readings were medical readings where he was able, in his coma-like state, to diagnose medical problems that, at times, doctors could not find or identify, and to prescribe treatments and remedies that had, at times, not yet been invented. Some of Edgar's 'patients' were over a thousand miles away when their readings took place. The second largest group of readings given by Edgar was life or reincarnation readings, and it was this group of approximately 2500 readings for about 2000 different people that mesmerized me. It was the information contained in these reincarnation readings that gave me the inspiration to start writing articles using the Edgar Cayce readings. I have had over twenty Edgar Cayce articles published in seven countries. I do not publish my articles on my website, but instead, refer visitors to my site to the actual magazines and websites where my articles can be found. This can develop into quite an adventure itself. Interested readers are encouraged to visit my website at http://dousimp.mnsi.net.
3. Do you find that it is hard to get people excited about what you write?
I remembered reading a newspaper article a few years back where something like 40% of Americans surveyed believed in reincarnation. That is a lot of potential readers! I believe the problem with reincarnation is that many believers are reluctant to come-out-of-the-closet, so to speak. When was the last time someone came up to you and asked: 'Do you believe in reincarnation?' My writing gives believers and the curious an opportunity to read and investigate in private. We believers have a grand time exchanging information and experiences. I like to think that I am opening a doorway for the closet believers to locate and exchange information.
4. What projects have you done?
After I had written and published about twenty articles, I started working on the manuscript that became my first novel, Soul Awakening, published in October of 2011. It is a spiritual mystery/romance delving into reincarnation, past lifetimes, spirit communication, messages from God, past-life regression sessions, Guardian Angels, past-life recall in the awake state, and soul attraction, the reincarnation of groups of souls together in more than one lifetime.
5. Any new projects coming up?
Book II in my series on souls, currently titled Soul Rescue, should be out this fall. A rough draft of book III, currently titled Soul Justice, has been completed, and I have started into book IV, currently titled Soul Karma. I also continue to publish Edgar Cayce articles.
6. Do you have any particular networking groups you would like to share that have helped you move forward with your success?
I have been very thankful for Facebook and LinkedIn. I have met hundreds of friendly people who are willing to offer advice, suggestions, and to interview me, like you Jennifer, and help publicize my work. Many thanks to you, Jenn, and to the many others that have taken the time to care.
7. Are you an independent writer or are you represented by an agency?
I found it very difficult to derive any interest in Soul Awakening from the big agencies and publishers, so I looked into the growing self-publishing industry. Fortunately, I discovered Book Locker, and have been very happy with their services.
8. What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?
I am still pretty new at this and do not consider myself experienced enough to be giving advice to new writers, but there is one thing that I would like to stress to the oft-discouraged beginners. Follow your dream and never give up. It took me over forty years to produce a worthwhile manuscript.
9. What are your habits when you sit down to write? Do you have to be in a certain room? Outside? Are you naked? Lol
I am very fortunate to be retired and on a decent pension. This allows me to write at any time of the day, on most days. I do write on the computer, always indoors, and dressed.
10. Do you prefer YA or Adult?
Because I write about survival of the soul after the death of the body, and the reincarnation of souls, I recommend my work for adults only.
11. Give us a sample of your work.
Opting for the circular path, Dacque noticed a woman on a bench to his right, with her face in her hands. As he shortened the distance between them, he could hear her sobbing, but decided that it was most-appropriate that he discreetly walk-on-by, pretending to ignore her. Fat chance. In his head, as clear as if it were spoken in his ear by some elf sitting on his shoulder, he heard: "Oh no you don't! Get back there!"
Dacque commenced an immediate U-turn, without signaling, and was fortunate that he had no tail-gaiting foot-traffic to wreck-havoc for. Backtracking to the woman on the bench, he stood in front of her for a long moment. When it became obvious that she was unaware of his presence, Dacque slowly approached the bench and settled in beside her. "Are you okay, Miss?"
The woman lifted her face from her hands, obviously startled, and Dacque immediately noticed the blood-shot eyes and the tears trickling down her cheeks. "I'm just wonderful!" she blurted out, sarcastically, "Please leave me alone."
"I can't do that! God told me to help you!"
The young woman glared at Dacque, open-mouthed. "What did you just say?"
"God ....... told ....... me ....... to ........ help ....... you!"
The two of them silently sat there, sharing a park bench on a quiet spring morning, and stared into each other's eyes.
Finally, the young woman wiped the tears from her cheeks and said softly, "Say that one more time so that I'm completely clear on what I think I am hearing."
"God told me to help you. He occasionally leads me to people who need His help."
The staring session resumed. Eventually, Dacque could detect the faintest smile beginning to appear at the edges of the young woman's makeup-less lips. "I am certainly not prepared to believe what you are telling me, and fortunately for you, you do not appear to be a dangerous character, so I will give you an opportunity to convince me that you are not an escapee from the loony-bin."
"Fair enough! I accept the challenge!" Dacque replied. "As I walked by, I noticed you with your face in your hands, and then heard your sobs, but kept on walking. Then, I heard, as clear as I hear you now: 'Oh no you don't! Get back there!' "
"And that's how God speaks to you?"
"Sometimes! When I am awake, and when I am ignoring his previous instructions. He also pays me visits when I am asleep or in a semi-conscious state. I can't swear to you that it is God. It is hard for me to accept that God would actually bother to deal with me directly. It could be an Angel or another one of God's helpers. The instructions I receive always involve doing good, never evil."
"Okay, I'm still not admitting that I believe you, but I will listen to you, at least for a few minutes. So, how are you supposed to help me?"
"I don't know, yet, because I do not know why you were crying. I also have not been told what I am to do next."
"I'm really not in the habit of sharing my problems with total strangers on park benches."
"I should hope not. I am not asking you to tell me anything about yourself, just why you were crying? Do you have a pain in your belly? Did a pigeon poop on your head? What caused the tears to flow on this beautiful spring morning?"
12. Favorite character you have written and why.
The protagonist in all of my four novels is a gentleman about my age, by the name of Dacque LaRose, and featured in the above excerpt from Chapter Two of Soul Awakening. He is totally fictional, but I have blessed or cursed him with many of my characteristics.
13. Do you think that the future is eBook or print?
With today's technology, eBooks will become even more popular, but I think that print books will also survive, just like movies survived the invention of television.
14. Where have you had the most success in selling your work?
Definitely eBooks.
15. Any websites you would like to share?
My articles and author interviews/features can be accessed through my website at http://dousimp.mnsi.net. My book website is at http://booklocker.com/books/5754.html.
16. If you could go back in time and meet one person who would it be and why?
I would have loved to have lived at the time of, and known, Jesus. I would have loved to ask Him how the world would have been different if Adam had not succumbed to the temptations in the Garden of Eden.
17. Favorite holiday...Halloween or Christmas?
Christmas! All of our children and grandchildren join us on Christmas morning for a Christmas breakfast and gift opening. They are then free to visit elsewhere for the rest of the day. We found this worked much better than trying to achieve the impossible of scheduling a Christmas dinner without conflicts.
18. Why do you think that the paranormal genre is so popular?
Many people lead hectic lives. Some believe in survival of the soul after death. Some feel reassured if they believe that there is hope that there is not just one life in human form and then the game is all over. Envisioning the what-ifs makes people feel better about their lot in life, and gives them hope for a better situation the next time around.
19. Facebook or Google+? Who wins in your book?
Definitely Facebook for me! I am still trying to figure out how Google+ works.
20. Who does your cover art? Do you design it yourself?
My publisher, Book Locker, has a cover designer. I gave him an idea of what I had in mind for the cover of Soul Awakening and he produced a masterpiece.
21. Do you sell your work in any stores? If so, where?
Soul Awakening is available in print and eBook format through most booksellers around the world.
Author bio:
Doug Simpson is a retired high school teacher who has turned his talents to writing. His first novel, a spiritual mystery titled Soul Awakening, was published in the United States in October of 2011, by Book Locker. Check it out at http://booklocker.com/books/5754.html . It is available in print and eBook format through most book stores around the world. His magazine and website articles have been published in 2010 to 2012 in Australia, Canada, France, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. His articles can be accessed through his website is at http://dousimp.mnsi.net.
Bookstores
Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Awakening-Doug-Simpson/dp/161434518X/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318345719&sr=1-1-fkmr0
Book Locker http://booklocker.com/books/5754.html
Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/soul-awakening-doug-simpson/1106466763?ean=9781614345183&itm=1&usri=22doug%2bsimpson22
Books-A-Million http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Soul-A...
Chapters.Indigo http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Soul-Awakening-Doug-Simpson/9781614345183-item.html?ikwid=%22doug+simpson%22&ikwsec=Books
eBooks
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Awakening-ebook/dp/B0063HVZ58/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1320714369&sr=1-1-fkmr0
B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/soul-awakening-doug-simpson/1106466763?ean=2940013642362&itm=1&usri=22soul%252bawakening22
Stalker pages:
Book website Book Locker http://booklocker.com/books/5754.html
Website http://dousimp.mnsi.net
Facebook*** https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003060595183
Today our interview is with Doug Simpson, author of Soul Awakening! Here is the description of his book.Soul Awakening is a work of fiction, inspired by a series of actual events. It involves the apparently accidental, though actually orchestrated by Divine Intervention, meeting of three total strangers, and their ultimate discovery that they shared previous lifetimes together. It includes episodes of spirit communication, messages from God, past-life regression sessions, Guardian Angels, past-life recall while awake, and Soul Attraction, the reincarnation of groups of souls together, in more than one lifetime.
Sounds cool, huh! Well, let's get on with the interview and see what Doug is all about!
1. When did you start writing?Writing has always been something I instinctively knew that I wanted to do. For some forty years I attempted a number of times to write a novel, but for assorted reasons I either abandoned the manuscript or produced a work of inferior quality.
2. What inspired you to finally do it?
After I retired I had time on my hands, and I spent a number of years researching the archived readings of the legendary American mystic from Virginia Beach, Edgar Cayce. In a self-induced, coma-like, trance state, Edgar gave over 15,000 readings, and retrieved an unimaginable quantity and quality of information in a number of subject areas. More than ten thousand of his readings were medical readings where he was able, in his coma-like state, to diagnose medical problems that, at times, doctors could not find or identify, and to prescribe treatments and remedies that had, at times, not yet been invented. Some of Edgar's 'patients' were over a thousand miles away when their readings took place. The second largest group of readings given by Edgar was life or reincarnation readings, and it was this group of approximately 2500 readings for about 2000 different people that mesmerized me. It was the information contained in these reincarnation readings that gave me the inspiration to start writing articles using the Edgar Cayce readings. I have had over twenty Edgar Cayce articles published in seven countries. I do not publish my articles on my website, but instead, refer visitors to my site to the actual magazines and websites where my articles can be found. This can develop into quite an adventure itself. Interested readers are encouraged to visit my website at http://dousimp.mnsi.net.
3. Do you find that it is hard to get people excited about what you write?
I remembered reading a newspaper article a few years back where something like 40% of Americans surveyed believed in reincarnation. That is a lot of potential readers! I believe the problem with reincarnation is that many believers are reluctant to come-out-of-the-closet, so to speak. When was the last time someone came up to you and asked: 'Do you believe in reincarnation?' My writing gives believers and the curious an opportunity to read and investigate in private. We believers have a grand time exchanging information and experiences. I like to think that I am opening a doorway for the closet believers to locate and exchange information.
4. What projects have you done?
After I had written and published about twenty articles, I started working on the manuscript that became my first novel, Soul Awakening, published in October of 2011. It is a spiritual mystery/romance delving into reincarnation, past lifetimes, spirit communication, messages from God, past-life regression sessions, Guardian Angels, past-life recall in the awake state, and soul attraction, the reincarnation of groups of souls together in more than one lifetime.
5. Any new projects coming up?
Book II in my series on souls, currently titled Soul Rescue, should be out this fall. A rough draft of book III, currently titled Soul Justice, has been completed, and I have started into book IV, currently titled Soul Karma. I also continue to publish Edgar Cayce articles.
6. Do you have any particular networking groups you would like to share that have helped you move forward with your success?
I have been very thankful for Facebook and LinkedIn. I have met hundreds of friendly people who are willing to offer advice, suggestions, and to interview me, like you Jennifer, and help publicize my work. Many thanks to you, Jenn, and to the many others that have taken the time to care.
7. Are you an independent writer or are you represented by an agency?
I found it very difficult to derive any interest in Soul Awakening from the big agencies and publishers, so I looked into the growing self-publishing industry. Fortunately, I discovered Book Locker, and have been very happy with their services.
8. What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?
I am still pretty new at this and do not consider myself experienced enough to be giving advice to new writers, but there is one thing that I would like to stress to the oft-discouraged beginners. Follow your dream and never give up. It took me over forty years to produce a worthwhile manuscript.
9. What are your habits when you sit down to write? Do you have to be in a certain room? Outside? Are you naked? Lol
I am very fortunate to be retired and on a decent pension. This allows me to write at any time of the day, on most days. I do write on the computer, always indoors, and dressed.
10. Do you prefer YA or Adult?
Because I write about survival of the soul after the death of the body, and the reincarnation of souls, I recommend my work for adults only.
11. Give us a sample of your work.
Opting for the circular path, Dacque noticed a woman on a bench to his right, with her face in her hands. As he shortened the distance between them, he could hear her sobbing, but decided that it was most-appropriate that he discreetly walk-on-by, pretending to ignore her. Fat chance. In his head, as clear as if it were spoken in his ear by some elf sitting on his shoulder, he heard: "Oh no you don't! Get back there!"
Dacque commenced an immediate U-turn, without signaling, and was fortunate that he had no tail-gaiting foot-traffic to wreck-havoc for. Backtracking to the woman on the bench, he stood in front of her for a long moment. When it became obvious that she was unaware of his presence, Dacque slowly approached the bench and settled in beside her. "Are you okay, Miss?"
The woman lifted her face from her hands, obviously startled, and Dacque immediately noticed the blood-shot eyes and the tears trickling down her cheeks. "I'm just wonderful!" she blurted out, sarcastically, "Please leave me alone."
"I can't do that! God told me to help you!"
The young woman glared at Dacque, open-mouthed. "What did you just say?"
"God ....... told ....... me ....... to ........ help ....... you!"
The two of them silently sat there, sharing a park bench on a quiet spring morning, and stared into each other's eyes.
Finally, the young woman wiped the tears from her cheeks and said softly, "Say that one more time so that I'm completely clear on what I think I am hearing."
"God told me to help you. He occasionally leads me to people who need His help."
The staring session resumed. Eventually, Dacque could detect the faintest smile beginning to appear at the edges of the young woman's makeup-less lips. "I am certainly not prepared to believe what you are telling me, and fortunately for you, you do not appear to be a dangerous character, so I will give you an opportunity to convince me that you are not an escapee from the loony-bin."
"Fair enough! I accept the challenge!" Dacque replied. "As I walked by, I noticed you with your face in your hands, and then heard your sobs, but kept on walking. Then, I heard, as clear as I hear you now: 'Oh no you don't! Get back there!' "
"And that's how God speaks to you?"
"Sometimes! When I am awake, and when I am ignoring his previous instructions. He also pays me visits when I am asleep or in a semi-conscious state. I can't swear to you that it is God. It is hard for me to accept that God would actually bother to deal with me directly. It could be an Angel or another one of God's helpers. The instructions I receive always involve doing good, never evil."
"Okay, I'm still not admitting that I believe you, but I will listen to you, at least for a few minutes. So, how are you supposed to help me?"
"I don't know, yet, because I do not know why you were crying. I also have not been told what I am to do next."
"I'm really not in the habit of sharing my problems with total strangers on park benches."
"I should hope not. I am not asking you to tell me anything about yourself, just why you were crying? Do you have a pain in your belly? Did a pigeon poop on your head? What caused the tears to flow on this beautiful spring morning?"
12. Favorite character you have written and why.
The protagonist in all of my four novels is a gentleman about my age, by the name of Dacque LaRose, and featured in the above excerpt from Chapter Two of Soul Awakening. He is totally fictional, but I have blessed or cursed him with many of my characteristics.
13. Do you think that the future is eBook or print?
With today's technology, eBooks will become even more popular, but I think that print books will also survive, just like movies survived the invention of television.
14. Where have you had the most success in selling your work?
Definitely eBooks.
15. Any websites you would like to share?
My articles and author interviews/features can be accessed through my website at http://dousimp.mnsi.net. My book website is at http://booklocker.com/books/5754.html.
16. If you could go back in time and meet one person who would it be and why?
I would have loved to have lived at the time of, and known, Jesus. I would have loved to ask Him how the world would have been different if Adam had not succumbed to the temptations in the Garden of Eden.
17. Favorite holiday...Halloween or Christmas?
Christmas! All of our children and grandchildren join us on Christmas morning for a Christmas breakfast and gift opening. They are then free to visit elsewhere for the rest of the day. We found this worked much better than trying to achieve the impossible of scheduling a Christmas dinner without conflicts.
18. Why do you think that the paranormal genre is so popular?
Many people lead hectic lives. Some believe in survival of the soul after death. Some feel reassured if they believe that there is hope that there is not just one life in human form and then the game is all over. Envisioning the what-ifs makes people feel better about their lot in life, and gives them hope for a better situation the next time around.
19. Facebook or Google+? Who wins in your book?
Definitely Facebook for me! I am still trying to figure out how Google+ works.
20. Who does your cover art? Do you design it yourself?
My publisher, Book Locker, has a cover designer. I gave him an idea of what I had in mind for the cover of Soul Awakening and he produced a masterpiece.
21. Do you sell your work in any stores? If so, where?
Soul Awakening is available in print and eBook format through most booksellers around the world.
Author bio:
Doug Simpson is a retired high school teacher who has turned his talents to writing. His first novel, a spiritual mystery titled Soul Awakening, was published in the United States in October of 2011, by Book Locker. Check it out at http://booklocker.com/books/5754.html . It is available in print and eBook format through most book stores around the world. His magazine and website articles have been published in 2010 to 2012 in Australia, Canada, France, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. His articles can be accessed through his website is at http://dousimp.mnsi.net.
Bookstores
Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Awakening-Doug-Simpson/dp/161434518X/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318345719&sr=1-1-fkmr0
Book Locker http://booklocker.com/books/5754.html
Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/soul-awakening-doug-simpson/1106466763?ean=9781614345183&itm=1&usri=22doug%2bsimpson22
Books-A-Million http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Soul-A...
Chapters.Indigo http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Soul-Awakening-Doug-Simpson/9781614345183-item.html?ikwid=%22doug+simpson%22&ikwsec=Books
eBooks
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Awakening-ebook/dp/B0063HVZ58/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1320714369&sr=1-1-fkmr0
B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/soul-awakening-doug-simpson/1106466763?ean=2940013642362&itm=1&usri=22soul%252bawakening22
Stalker pages:
Book website Book Locker http://booklocker.com/books/5754.html
Website http://dousimp.mnsi.net
Facebook*** https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003060595183
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